Sam Smith - Writing’s On The Wall Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar B chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
[Opening]
[Em] [G] [Em] [G]
[Em]I’ve been here [G]before
[Em]But always hit the [G]floor
I’ve [C]spent a lifetime running
And I [B]always get away
But with [C]you I’m feeling something
That [B]makes me want to [B]stay
[verse 2]
[Em]I’m prepared for [G]this
[Em]I never shoot to [G]miss
But I [C]feel like a storm is coming
If I’m [B]gonna make it through the day
Then there’s [C]no more use in running
This is [B]something I gotta [B]face
[chorus]
[Em]If [D] I [G]risk it [C]all
[Em]Could [D]you [G]break my [B]fall?
How do I [Em]live? How do I [D]breathe?
When you’re not [C]here I’m [D]suffocating
I want to feel [Em]love, run through my [D]blood
Tell me is [C]this where I give it all [Bm]up?
For [Am]you I have to [Am]risk it [Bm] [B]all
Cause the writing’s on the [Em]wall
[Closing]
[Em] [G]
[Em]A million shards of [G]glass
[Em]That haunt me from my [G]past
As the [C]stars begin to gather
And the [B]light begins to fade
When all [C]hope begins to shatter
Know that [B]I won’t be [B]afraid
[chorus]
[Em]If [D] I [G]risk it [C]all
[Em]Could [D]you [G]break my [B]fall?
How do I [Em]live? How do I [D]breathe?
When you’re not [C]here I’m [D]suffocating
I want to feel [Em]love, run through my [D]blood
Tell me is [C]this where I give it all [Bm]up?
For [Am]you I have to [Am]risk it [Bm] [B]all
Cause the writing’s on the [Em] [G]wall
The writing’s on the [Em] [G]wall
[chorus]
[C] [B] [C] [B] [B]
How do I [Em]live? How do I [D]breathe?
When you’re not [C]here I’m [D]suffocating
I want to feel [Em]love, run through my [D]blood
Tell me is [C]this where I give it all [D]up?
How do I [Em]live? How do I [D]breathe?
When you’re not [C]here I’m [D]suffocating
I want to feel [Em]love, run through my [D]blood
Tell me is [C]this where I give it all [Bm]up?
For [Am]you I have to [Am]risk it [Bm] [B]all
Cause the writing’s on the [Em]wall
How to play Writing's On The Wall on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Sam Smith - Writing's On The Wall on guitar requires 7 chords and 12 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Writing's On The Wall uses these transitions most often: Em → D (12), Em → G (11), and B → Em (9). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Em - G chord transition.
1. Em → G chord transition
To move from Em to G;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
2. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
3. C → B chord transition
To move from C to B;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 4.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 4.
- Place pinky on B string fret 4.
4. B → Em chord transition
To move from B to Em;
- While playing B, first lift your index finger and pinky.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from G string fret 4 to D string fret 2.
5. Em → D chord transition
To move from Em to D;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
- Place index finger on G string fret 2.
6. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
7. C → Em chord transition
To move from C to Em;
- While playing C, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
8. G → B chord transition
To move from G to B;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 4.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 4.
- Place pinky on B string fret 4.
9. D → C chord transition
To move from D to C;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
10. C → Bm chord transition
To move from C to Bm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
- Place pinky on G string fret 4.
11. Bm → Am chord transition
To move from Bm to Am;
- While playing Bm, lift your pinky from G string fret 4.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on G string fret 2.
12. Bm → B chord transition
To move from Bm to B;
- Keep index finger on E string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from B string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 4 to G string fret 4.
- Lift your pinky from G string fret 4 and place it on B string fret 4.
Writing's On The Wall chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Writing's On The Wall.
- Writing's On The Wall includes 95 chord transitions, 12 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Writing's On The Wall contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Writing's On The Wall connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).
- Em → G: 18%
- Em → D: 17%
After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).- C → D: 11%
- C → Em: 8%